Advancing device in electrically driven typewriters and similar machines

Abstract

In an advancing device for the motorized vertical displacement of a record carrier in an electrically driven office machine, which device includes an operating element mounted for movement in either one of two directions from a zero position, and members responsive to movement of the operating element in either one of its two directions for displacing such carrier in a respective vertical direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the operating element, the members are made to be responsive to movement of the operating element in at least one direction from the zero position for advancing the record carrier at a rate which increases as the extent of displacement of the operating element from the zero position increases.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an advancing device for the motorized vertical forward or reverse movement of a record carrier in an electrically driven office machine, which device includes an operating element mounted for displacement in either one of two directions from a zero position, and means responsive to displacement of the operating element in a first one of the two directions for effecting forward vertical movement of such carrier and responsive to displacement of the operating element in the second one of the two directions for effecting reverse vertical movement of such carrier, the improvement wherein said means are responsive to displacement of said operating element in the first direction to at least three successive distances from the zero position for moving the record carrier at a rate which increases between at least three values which increase successively from one value to the next as the extent of displacement of said operating element from the zero position increases from one successive distance to the next, with each successive distance being associated with a respective one of the three rate values. 
     
     
       2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means operate to effect forward movement of the record carrier in discrete steps at spaced time intervals at a rate which increases with increasing displacement of said operating element in the first direction from the zero position, and effects reverse movement of the record carrier in discrete steps at spaced time intervals in response to displacement of said operating element in the second direction from the zero position. 
     
     
       3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means operate to effect a first forward movement of the record carrier in discrete steps at spaced time intervals in response to displacement of said operating element in the first direction over a first distance from the zero position, and a continuous forward movement at a higher rate than the first movement in response to displacement of said operating element in the first direction to a distance from the zero position which is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
       4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means operate to effect a first forward movement of the record carrier in discrete steps at spaced time intervals in response to displacement of said operating element in the first direction to a first distance from the zero position, and a second forward movement at a rate which increases with increasing displacement of said operating element from the zero position over a displacement path which is more remote from the zero position than the first distance. 
     
     
       5. A device as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said means operate to effect reverse movement of said record carrier at a rate which increases as the extent of displacement of said operating element in the second direction from the zero position increases. 
     
     
       6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said operating element is constructed to be displaceable in at least one direction from the zero position over a path composed of a plurality of segments each associated with a respective record carrier movement rate. 
     
     
       7. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said operating element is constructed to be displaceable in at least one direction from the zero position over a path presenting a plurality of successive detent points each associated with a respective rate of movement from the record carrier. 
     
     
       8. A device as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said means operate to effect a first reverse movement of said record carrier in discrete steps at spaced time intervals in response to displacement of said operating element in the second direction over a first distance from the zero position, and a continuous reverse movement at a higher rate than the first movement in response to displacement of said operating element in the second direction to a distance from the zero position which is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
       9. A device as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said means operate to effect a first reverse movement of said record carrier in discrete steps at spaced time intervals in response to displacement of said operating element in the second direction over a first distance from the zero position, and a second reverse movement at said rate which increases as the extent of displacement of said operating element increases in the second direction from the zero position beyond the first distance. 
     
     
       10. A device as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein said operating element is constructed to be displaceable in at least one direction from the zero position over a path composed of a plurality of segments each associated with a respective record carrier movement rate. 
     
     
       11. A device as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein said operating element is constructed to be displaceable in at least one direction from the zero position over a path presenting a plurality of successive detent points each associated with a respective rate of movement from the record carrier. 
     
     
       12. A device as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the zero position coincides with a predetermined displacement range of said operating element. 
     
     
       13. A device as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said means comprise: a position transducer connected to be displaced with said operating element for producing an output signal representative of the position of said operating element relative to the zero position; and an evaluation circuit connected to receive the output signal provided by said transducer and to move the record carrier in response thereto. 
     
     
       14. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said transducer comprises a potentiometer. 
     
     
       15. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said transducer comprises means fixed relative to said operating element and defining a path presenting spaced code signal emitters, and a pickup movable with said operating element along said path. 
     
     
       16. A device as defined in claim 2, 3 or 4 further comprising a manually actuatable switch connected for varying the magnitude of each discrete step of movement of the record carrier. 
     
     
       17. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein said switch is connected to be actuated by displacement of said operating element in a direction other than the first-recited two directions of displacement.